Kasowitz Law Firm Files Copyright Lawsuit Against James Cameron Over 'Avatar: The Way of Water'

Kasowitz Takes Legal Action Over Intellectual Property Theft

In a significant legal development, Kasowitz LLP filed a copyright infringement lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Central District of California on behalf of Eric Ryder, a former 3-D animator and independent creator. Mr. Ryder's complaint is directed against James Cameron, his production entity Lightstorm Entertainment, and several subsidiaries of The Walt Disney Company, including 20th Century Studios, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, and Disney Streaming Services, LLC. The suit arises from what Mr. Ryder alleges is the unauthorized exploitation of his intellectual property in the blockbuster film, Avatar: The Way of Water.

The lawsuit outlines a long history between Mr. Ryder and Lightstorm, dating back to the late 1990s and early 2000s, during which the production company collaborated extensively with him on a sci-fi project known as KRZ. This story featured anthropomorphic beings, a vast oceanic environment, and themes revolving around ecological degradation caused by a malevolent corporation involved in environmentally damaging mining operations on a moon of a gas giant planet. After a lengthy development phase, Lightstorm eventually decided to scrap the project, citing a lack of interest in environmental narratives within the sci-fi genre.

However, not long after this cancellation, Cameron and Lightstorm released Avatar, a film that bore striking similarities to Mr. Ryder’s previously conceived ideas, leading to an earlier legal dispute. While that earlier case was resolved in favor of Lightstorm and Cameron, the production team pursued new attempts to secure rights to Mr. Ryder's original work, all of which were ultimately unsuccessful.

According to the complaint, despite the failures to obtain rights to KRZ, Cameron and Lightstorm allegedly incorporated aspects of Ryder’s protected creative expressions into Avatar: The Way of Water. The lawsuit features several comparative diagrams that highlight the parallels between Ryder's original concepts and the plot elements, settings, dialogues, and story arcs presented in the latest Avatar installment. These revelations form the crux of the claim that the infringement was not only clear but also intentional and egregious.

In seeking justice, Mr. Ryder is pursuing compensatory damages exceeding $500 million, alongside punitive damages and an injunction to prevent any future exploitation of Avatar: The Way of Water, including its sequels like Avatar: Fire and Ash, which is scheduled for release on December 19, 2025.

Daniel A. Saunders, a partner at Kasowitz LLP and counsel for Mr. Ryder, underscored the severity of the allegations, stating, "The defendants’ supposed misappropriation and outright theft of Mr. Ryder's creative ideas in crafting one of the highest-grossing movies ever is nothing short of blatant. The similarities between Mr. Ryder’s original visions and the cinematic elements in The Way of Water are undeniable. We anticipate effectively proving the defendants' liability in court, including examining how Mr. Ryder's creations may have influenced future sequels."

The Kasowitz legal team advocating for Ryder comprises partner Daniel A. Saunders and associate Dwayne A. Amos, both of whom are well-regarded for their litigation prowess.

About Kasowitz LLP

Kasowitz LLP stands as a prominent national law firm that specializes in commercial litigation while also excelling in bankruptcy, restructuring, and real estate transactional operations. Renowned for its aggressive litigation strategies and readiness for trial, the firm's expertise spans various areas of legal practice. With offices across major U.S. cities, Kasowitz remains committed to innovative solutions for its clients' most complex legal challenges.

For more details about their services and to track their ongoing cases, please visit Kasowitz's official website.